Thursday, 25 May 2017

The Queen visits Manchester (updated)

The Queen has visited Manchester today to meet some of those injured in Monday's bomb attack. The Queen spent time with some of those still being treated at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital this morning and told them that the bomber was 'very wicked'. The bomb went off at the end of a concert by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena. Twenty two people were killed, many of them children and young people.

The Queen arrived at the hospital soon after a minute's silence was held across the country for those killed and injured by the bomb. She met many of those who were on duty on Monday night as casualties arrived and heard about how off duty staff had come into work when the scale of the attack became apparent. She praised their work and their sense of duty and listened to their stories.

The Queen also met several of those injured in the bomb and told them that the attack was dreadful. She also spoke to one about the pop star they had all gone to see, Ariana Grande, telling her she sounded ''very, very good''.

The Queen's visit was unannounced and greeted with huge warmth in Manchester where a large crowd gathered to see her leave, cheering and clapping. Just hours after the attack, the Queen made her first comments on the attack, sending her condolences to the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, expressing sympathy and expressing admiration for ''the way the people of Manchester have responded with humanity and compassion to this act of barbarity''. Today, she got the chance to speak to those affected themselves and her visit was clearly much appreciated.